Grado Fan Club! - Page 126

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr.Sneis 

 

The padded part seems to have less... meat to it?  I can't really offer pics atm but I felt right away the padding and quality of the headband felt a lot cheaper than it was. Specifically the section that comes in contact with your head.

 

Why complain about the headband? The ear pads are what really are the weak point of Grado's entire lineup especially for their higher ends such as the RS, GS, and PS considering either a lack of comfort or just using cheap foam pads that wear out every couple years AND cost way more than they should. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Posam 

 

Why complain about the headband? The ear pads are what really are the weak point of Grado's entire lineup especially for their higher ends such as the RS, GS, and PS considering either a lack of comfort or just using cheap foam pads that wear out every couple years AND cost way more than they should. 

just get the hd414 pads.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Posam 

 

Why complain about the headband? The ear pads are what really are the weak point of Grado's entire lineup especially for their higher ends such as the RS, GS, and PS considering either a lack of comfort or just using cheap foam pads that wear out every couple years AND cost way more than they should. 

Easy, wash the crap out of the ear pads 2-3 times or pick up some flats, or 414 pads.

So, I've been listening to my SR80i's for around 3 days now. And I must say I'm absolutely in love. I can't wait until these are properly broken-in, so I can start modding! I'm very new to Hi-Fi, so I can't really describe how these sound other than "really really really nice". My favourite album to listen to so far is This Town Needs Guns' "Animals".

My only main complaint is that after a while my head starts to ache tremendously. Does anyone have an idea as to how to lessen the pain?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sinpathy 

So, I've been listening to my SR80i's for around 3 days now. And I must say I'm absolutely in love. I can't wait until these are properly broken-in, so I can start modding! I'm very new to Hi-Fi, so I can't really describe how these sound other than "really really really nice". My favourite album to listen to so far is This Town Needs Guns' "Animals".

My only main complaint is that after a while my head starts to ache tremendously. Does anyone have an idea as to how to lessen the pain?

Your head..? not ears or inside your ear? Maybe the treble is too much for you but I don't know I've never had much of a problem with my SR80i like that. 

do you have the comfies?

I do, in fact have comfies. I just quarter-modded them, and I'll listen a bit to see how the pain is now. Unfortunately I don't have any way to sell them, since I'm only a sixteen-year-old living in Brasil, and I don't want to, since I adore the sound that these babies make.

To Posam: I'm not sure how to describe the pain, it feels like it's inside my ear canal, to be honest. I don't think it's the volume, since I haven't been listening to them at such a high volume.

I'll listen a bit more and get back to you guys.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sinpathy 

I do, in fact have comfies. I just quarter-modded them, and I'll listen a bit to see how the pain is now. Unfortunately I don't have any way to sell them, since I'm only a sixteen-year-old living in Brasil, and I don't want to, since I adore the sound that these babies make.

To Posam: I'm not sure how to describe the pain, it feels like it's inside my ear canal, to be honest. I don't think it's the volume, since I haven't been listening to them at such a high volume.

I'll listen a bit more and get back to you guys.

Did you try bending the headband itself? That will relieve some stress on that head and might solve some of your issues

Quote:

Originally Posted by Posam 

 

Why complain about the headband? The ear pads are what really are the weak point of Grado's entire lineup especially for their higher ends such as the RS, GS, and PS considering either a lack of comfort or just using cheap foam pads that wear out every couple years AND cost way more than they should. 

While the foam pads do seem a bit pricey, they do tend to use a few different layers of foam in the construction.  The comfy pads are the only pads that appear to be made from one type of foam.  The others seem to be built up using some variations of densities of foam.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr.Sneis 

Easy, wash the crap out of the ear pads 2-3 times or pick up some flats, or 414 pads.

 

Yes, washing is a very good option to keep some life going with the pads.  The "Flats" though, tend to be a bit costly.  $35.00 if I can recall, along with $7.50 in shipping.   The HD-414 pads are about the cheapest option - $5.50 from B&H Photo.  Dye them with some black RIT dye and then perform the reverse-quarter mod once they have dried and you're good to go.

However, I did have someone who was recently using my Magnums for demonstration and to get an idea of what the driver offered in comparison to some other Grado drivers in a similar price league.  The individual didn't like my HD-414 pads with the reverse-quart mod and instead opted to put their own Grado pads on the headphones, which they found more enjoyable.  I guess it all comes down to individual preference.  Personally, though, I think the Sennheiser HD-414 pads with the mod performed tend to last longer than the comfy pads with the quarter mod performed.  To me, and in my experiences, the comfy pads tend to flatten out more as opposed to the 414 pads.  This led to a more uncomfortable comfy pad.  If I were to use the comfy pads again, I'd just use them as the full pad - no quarter mod opening performed.

The Grado pads drove me crazy for a few weeks. I found my SR325is stock bowls to be comfortable for a 2-2.5 hour listening session. But then I found myself listening to my Grados for more than 4 hours every night (I absolutely love the sound) and that caused discomfort.

I tried everything from comfys, HD 414 quarter modded pads, flats, G cush pads, but nothing provided long time comfort. So I went one step ahead and tried different pad mods.

The radio shack mod (I found this somewhere on Head-fi). I found this to be the best compromise between the SQ and comfort. Punch some holes in radioShack's headphone pads and fit the bowls over em. My bowl pads softened after use and the shack pads do not let my ears rub against the drivers.

I recently purchased the BrainWavz HM3 and they came with a spare set of pads, which I used to get this:

I put the HM3 pads over HD414s. The SQ became veiled and distant, so I enlarged the quarter sized hole of the HD414s and cut off the foam of the HM3 pads. Fits around my ears and has great comfort for a Grado!

yeah it's just from wearing them for so long, I don't know, I honestly don't have the aching ear problem anymore, especially after I upgraded to the bowls.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sinpathy 

So, I've been listening to my SR80i's for around 3 days now. And I must say I'm absolutely in love. I can't wait until these are properly broken-in, so I can start modding! I'm very new to Hi-Fi, so I can't really describe how these sound other than "really really really nice". My favourite album to listen to so far is This Town Needs Guns' "Animals".

My only main complaint is that after a while my head starts to ache tremendously. Does anyone have an idea as to how to lessen the pain?

Just some food for thought here. If you are absolutely in love with your headphones as they are, go slow on the mods. As far as tweaking them to make them more comfortable, you can bend the headband at some different points to relieve some of the pressure being created. Ear pads are also a way to address both the comfort issue and moderate the tone and timbre of your Grado. The Senn 414 pads are very inexpensive and the TTVJ flats are a great and perhaps better alternative to getting more bass out of your Grado. The best mod for your new cans though is music. Enjoy, and welcome to the Grado Fan Club.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KneelJung 

The best mod for your new cans though is music. 

Brian,

Are you implying that we should actually use them - as opposed to using them as high-priced paperweights?  Hmmm .... that's something I hadn't considered.  

Quote:

Originally Posted by ObeyurMaster 

The Grado pads drove me crazy for a few weeks. I found my SR325is stock bowls to be comfortable for a 2-2.5 hour listening session. But then I found myself listening to my Grados for more than 4 hours every night (I absolutely love the sound) and that caused discomfort.

 

I tried everything from comfys, HD 414 quarter modded pads, flats, G cush pads, but nothing provided long time comfort. So I went one step ahead and tried different pad mods.

 

The radio shack mod (I found this somewhere on Head-fi). I found this to be the best compromise between the SQ and comfort. Punch some holes in radioShack's headphone pads and fit the bowls over em. My bowl pads softened after use and the shack pads do not let my ears rub against the drivers.

 

 

I recently purchased the BrainWavz HM3 and they came with a spare set of pads, which I used to get this:

 

 

I put the HM3 pads over HD414s. The SQ became veiled and distant, so I enlarged the quarter sized hole of the HD414s and cut off the foam of the HM3 pads. Fits around my ears and has great comfort for a Grado!

 

I already have done the shack hack mod which definitely increased comfort though my issue with the middle pads now is that I find they are little too soft and my ear pushes them down and I feel the driver after a couple hours. I'm hoping bending the headband out will ease this though. I was thinking of seeing if xb500 pads fit on them when I go home over spring break (didn't have room to bring them with me). 
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by wje 

Brian,

 

Are you implying that we should actually use them - as opposed to using them as high-priced paperweights?  Hmmm .... that's something I hadn't considered.  

 

I dont think anyone uses their cans as high priced paperweights, well maybe those guys in the high end forum, I'm just sayin